Dr. Jack M. Oliver

The world lost a great man on Sunday June 5th.  My uncle Jack passed away after complications from cancer treatment a few years back.  I have very fond memories of going to my Aunt Martha Lou and Uncle Jack's in Knoxville, Tennessee as a kid.  My favorite thing was that they had a pool table.  I couldn't even reach it at the time, but I do remember he would take the time to let me knock some of the balls around.  We would take a day trip to the Smokies, and it was always something I looked forward to.  I always wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid and was excited in 6th grade when I got to write a report about what I wanted to be when I grew up.  He was kind enough to take the call from that excited 11 year old, and go through with the interview. Those are just a few memories I have as a child of my uncle Jack. 

My cousin Kevin wrote some beautiful words about him as well:

 "Sorry to report we lost our Dad on Sunday to heart failure at the age of 72. Jack Oliver was an intelligent and gracious man, well loved by colleagues and family alike. He left the family farm to earn four degrees at Purdue in the 1960s, helped start a new Vet School at Tennessee in 1976, and was honored this spring for 35 years on the faculty. Dad was a college sports fan who loved his Vols and Lady Vols, and anyone winning in his native Indiana. He enjoyed spending time in the Smokies with friends and family, and managed to get us to just about every national park in the system, instilling a great love of the open road and outdoors. He was preceded in death by his parents Helen and Levi of Ellettsville, Indiana, one brother, and our Mom, Marty. He is survived by two sisters, one brother, his second wife Suanne, two sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandsons, four step children, and seven step grandchildren. This is Dad's last photo, taken just three weeks ago at First United Methodist in Maryville. You will be missed!"

As an educator, father, uncle and person he had a positive impact on many peoples lives.  You can read comments from his students, friends, family and colleagues here on this online guestbook. 

A great history of accomplishments:

OLIVER, DR. JACK M. D.V.M. - age 73 of Maryville, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville. Dr. Oliver (B.S. 1960, M.S., D.V.M., Ph.D.) Was in the fourth graduating class at Purdue's Vet. School. He held Assistant Professorships at Colleges of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue (1969/70), Texas A&M (1970/71) and Ohio State (1972 to 1975). He has been an Associate professor (1975 to 1982) and Professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for 35 years (Pharmacology and Endocrinology). He currently served as the Director of Clinical Endocrinology Service at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. The Service specializes in adrenal disorders, and Dr. Oliver and co-workers did the initial studies that led to the concept of an adrenal syndrome that is now recognized as "Atypical Cushing's Syndrome", where the sex steroids are increased and cortisol levels are normal. Dr. Oliver and his co-workers also developed the usage of adrenal steroid profiles in the diagnosis of adrenal disease (cortisol, sex steroids and aldosterone).

Aunt Martha Lou and Uncle Jack - 1981

Family Trip to the Great Smokey Mountains - around 1986